Stabilization of vinylidene chloride



Patented June 6, 139

ST ILIZATION 6K5 2 v Gerald E. Coleman and John W. Zomba, 4'

Mich, shore to The Dow Checal Coma 0b., a oorstion oil Michi- No Drawing. Original application ember 1,

1936, Serial No. 113,742. Divided and this application May 31, 1938, serial No. 211,626

5Claims.

This invention relates to the art of stabilizing vinylidene chloride, H2C=CClz, and to the im'-'- proved composition thereby obtained.

When vinylidene chloride is exposed to the action of air and light, a gradual polymerization takes place with the formation of resinous products. The formation of such poylmerlc compounds is desirable in the preparation of plastics, but it is necessary that the material be stabilized at least temporarily against such polymerization so that it can be stored for a period of time following its preparation, and prior to its use in resin formation. It is, therefore, among the objects of this invention to provide a process for inhibiting the polymerization of vinylidene chloride. A further object of the invention is to provide a relatively stable monomeric vinylidene chloride. Another object of the invention is to provide a stabilized vinylidene chloride composition from which the stabilizing agent can be readily removed when desired.

We have discovered that vinylidene chloride can be stabilized against the action of air and light by incorporating therewith one, or a combination, of certain organic compounds, and furthermore, that these stabilizing agents can be conveniently separated from the vinylidene chloride immediately prior to the polymerization thereof.

The proportion in which such stabilizing agents are incorporated with the vinylidene chloride is dependent upon the length of time for which it is desired to stabilize the vinylidene chloride, and the particular agent employed. While any desired proportions of stabilizing agent may be so employed-the use of up to 10 per cent by weight thereof in the stabilized composition is generally sufilcient. The low solubility in vinylidene chloride of many of the stabilizing agents hereinaiter described limits the proportions thereof which can effectively be employed to below 1 per cent by weight of the stabilized product.

In determining the effect of various compounds as stabilizers, the material to be tested was added to 10 milliliters, i. e., 12.5 grams, of vinylidene chloride, in a 25 milliliter test tube. The test tube holding such composition was thereafter tightly stoppered and exposed to light at a terriperature of 25-35 C. for the duration of the test in the presence of air in the tube above the liquid. Each sample was examined to determine the amount of polymerized product present therein, as indicated by the amount of precipitated polymer accumulating in the bottom of the test tube. Controls were run on 10 milliliter samples of unstabilized vinylidene chloride maintained under the conditions above described.

In the following table, which summarizes the results from a number of experiments, the numeral (1) indicates that a trace of precipitate was formed in the vinylidene chloride upon con- 7 tact with the stabilizing agent so desimated. In each case where this phenomenon was observed the suspension was filtered prior to the observation period, and the clear filtrate employed as the test solution. Where the numeral (2) appears in the table, the stabilizing agent preceded thereby tended to emulsify the test solution at the concentration employed. When the stabiliz- Table Stabilizing agent Concentration Time Results Percent Dam None 1 Test tube hall iull of white fiocculont i l to. 2 Gelstlnous mass. 8 D0. 7 Hard resinous mass. (1) Ammonia Trace 7 Small amount 0! flocculent precipitate. (l) Tri-ethylsmine. Less than 7.5 7 Clear solution. Tri-butylamine. 7.6 14 Do. 0.68 7 Do. (2) Mono -ethnnol Trace 7 No precipitate.

am no. (2) Di ethanola- Trees 7 be.

mine. 1-3 diamlno-iso-pro- Tram 7 Clear solution.

arm]. 14 Turbid solution. (1} {:lthylene dis- Less than 7.5 7 Clear solution.

m no. (1) Aniline Less than 7.5 Do. I Leap than 0.08 7 Do. Methyl aniline---" 7. 5 60 Do. Di-methyl aniline. 0. 08 7 Do 0rtho-loluidlne. 7. 5 21 Do. 0. 08 7 Do. Diphsnyl-amlue. 7. 5 7 Do. (1) p-Phsnyloue- 7. 5 7 Trace of precipitate.

diemlne.

21 Test tube hall lull of V dark precipitate. Pyridine. 7. 5 7 Clear solution. Quinolino. Less than 0.08 7 Do.

7.5 1 Trace oi precipitate.

7 Do. 21 Some precl itate. Nicotine Trace 21 Clear solut on. Bcnzldine Trace 2 Do.

7 Trace oi precipitate. Meta amino ban- Trace 1 Do.

zoic acid.

' 7 Do. Acetamide Trace 21 Blight precipitate. Nine-bemoan..." 7. 5 21 Clear solution. Salicylic acid amide Trace 14 Do.

oi 2-amino-4- (bonzeno -azo) naphthalene. Para-omino-phenoL Trees Trees oi precipitate.

o. 21 Turbid solution. Hydroxy azo bou- Tram 21 Clear solution.

zone.

lid

from the distillation and was adapted to be reemployed for the stabilization of additional vinylidene chloride. Vinylidene chloride obtained thereby as a low boiling distillate was found to polymerize readily under the usual conditions.

This application is a division of our co-pending application Serial Number 113,742, filed December 1, 1936.

Other modes of applying the principle of our invention may be employed'inste'ad of those explained, change being made as regards the materials employed, provided the step or steps or the products recited in the following claims be thereby carried out or obtained.

We therefore particularly point out and distinctly claim as our invention:

1. Monomeric vinylidene chloride stabib .d with sufllcient of an organic amino compound selected from the group consisting of the lower aliphatic aminoand phenyl series aromatic amino compounds to prevent polymerization.

2. Monomeric vinylidene chloride stabilized with suflicient of a lower aliphatic amino compound to prevent polymerization.

3. Monomeric vinylidene chloride stabilized with suiilcient of a lower alkyl amine to prevent polymerization.

4. Monomeric vinylidene chloride stabilized with suiflcient of a phenyl series aromatic amino compound to prevent poylmerization.

5. Monomeric vinylidene chloride stabilized with up to 10 per cent of aniline, said aniline being present in suflicient quantity to prevent polymerization.

GERALD H. COLEMAN. JOHN W. ZEMBA. 

